Compare towns
Dorchester vs Carroll vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Carroll has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Groton has the most kids (15.4% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dorchester | Carroll | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
659Highest |
507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5 29% above NH |
62.4±4.8Highest 44% above NH |
51.1±16.2Lowest 18% above NH |
| Carroll and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
7%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Groton and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
29.4%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.2% NH: 40.6% |
29.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2%±2Highest NH: 6% |
| Groton and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $64,821±$26kLowest 35% below NH |
$85,625±$21kHighest 14% below NH |
| Groton and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$261,500±$42k 35% below NH |
$269,000±$45kHighest 33% below NH |
| Groton and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,078±$241Lowest 28% below NH |
$2,667±$295Highest 79% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Highest 43% below NH |
$3,356 50% below NH |
$2,873Lowest 57% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
28%±47.5 NH: 48.2% |
50%±83.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Groton and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
22 minLowest 19% below NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
4.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.7%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Groton and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.